Council called on to save 22 jobs at Mr Price in Tipperary
A Tipperary councillor has urged the local authority to help save 22 jobs by finding a new premises for a Mr Price outlet, which faces closure over a planning dispute.
The Mr Price outlet in Tipperary town is in danger of shutting its doors, with the loss of 22 jobs due to a long-running planning dispute with Tipperary County Council and An Coimisiún Pleanála.
An Coimisiún Pleanála recently upheld a decision by Tipperary County Council refusing retention planning permission for the store in the Tipperary Town Retail Park.
Corajio, trading as Mr Price applied to the council earlier this year seeking retention permission for both unit one and unit two to serve as a shop for the retail sale of goods including ancillary staff offices and a canteen along with all shopfront signage.
This was refused by the council on the grounds that the retail park is zoned for ‘light industrial’ use under the Tipperary town development plan, and that Mr Price’s use of the building is not permitted under this land use.
The company appealed this decision to the planning appeals board, saying that the Tipperary town development plan expired in 2013, and that they were unable to identify another suitable property in Tipperary town.
An Coimisiún Pleanála said that the company did not have information on all the floor areas of all the vacant properties in Tipperary town, and questioned the company’s claim that there are no suitable sites in the town.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Annemarie Ryan has called on the council to engage with Corajio and help them to find an alternative site.